"You brat, you're courting death..." Despite being teased by Ye Jingyu, Luo Ruofeng didn't appear angry; he was merely momentarily stunned. However, the subordinates surrounding him were completely enraged, their dissatisfaction with Ye Jingyu erupting fully. Immediately, one of the Xiantian Martial Masters drew a three-foot-long battle saber and slashed horizontally toward Ye Jingyu...

With a "swish," a black streak flashed, aiming directly for the Xiantian Martial Master's heart. The Martial Master was shocked, instantly diverting the saber to block his chest, while his body instinctively dodged to the side...

With a "ch," the Martial Master's saber failed to intercept the black streak; instead, it was driven deep into his right shoulder, causing a spurt of blood. Only then did everyone realize it was a black feather arrow...

The color drained from everyone's faces simultaneously. They raised their weapons, glaring menacingly at Ye Jingyu...

"Stop them all..." The entire incident unfolded too quickly for Luo Ruofeng to intervene. It was only after his subordinate was wounded by the arrow that he snapped back to reality and roared a halt...

"Heh heh, your subordinate is a bit too impulsive..." Ye Jingyu let out a cold laugh. At that moment, a group of men and women clad in animal skins and leaves emerged from the woods. Leading them was Chi Yixiu, once the foremost warrior of the Chiyi tribe. Beside him stood a man and a woman holding bows—it was Ye Jingyu's acquisitions, Hu Yanqi and Hu Yanmeng. Although their tribal chief had given them to Ye Jingyu as slaves, they followed him willingly, as Ye Jingyu's subjugation of the Taotie had indirectly saved the entire Hu Yan tribe...

Today, they had gone out hunting together. However, with two of his slaves present, and considering himself a Soul Master, Ye Jingyu had opted not to join the main hunting party, instead wandering around with the Taotie. When the hunting party returned and saw their master nearly endangered, Hu Yanqi instinctively drew his bow. As the most skilled archer of the Hu Yan tribe, his marksmanship was unmatched. Had the target not possessed the Xiantian realm attainment, that single arrow would have been lethal...

Upon seeing over a hundred barbarians pouring out of the woods, Luo Ruofeng's subordinates all changed expression. Though they sensed no trace of true qi emanating from these brutes, their towering physiques, robust frames, and the mysteriously appearing arrows meant that if a real fight broke out, they might all be annihilated...

"Yiyiyi... Wu-ao... Wu-ao!" At this moment, the somewhat beastly Taotie shifted into its ravenous form and bounded over from nearby, stopping beside Ye Jingyu. Its pair of green eyes were fixed intently on the Xiantian Martial Master who had just acted, drool dripping from its jaws as if calculating where to begin its feast...

Seeing the Taotie, even though many didn't know what it was, mistaking it for a wolf cub, everyone felt an inexplicable chill when they met those green eyes—like encountering a ghost in a graveyard...

"Brother, I..." Seeing this intimidating setup, this group dared not cause further trouble any longer. Luo Ruofeng tried to explain, but Ye Jingyu cut him off...

"Relax, Young Third Master. We hold no grudge; there's no need to fight to the death. It’s just that your subordinate was overly arrogant. That arrow was merely a lesson," Ye Jingyu said dismissively...

He cast a disdainful glance at the injured Xiantian Martial Master, silently cursing: What are you showing off for? Do you think this is the Shu Yun Kingdom? This is the Southern Wild Forest...

"Lian Yi, apologize to this brother immediately..." Seeing that Ye Jingyu had no intention of fighting, Young Third Master Luo Ruofeng felt a wave of relief and directly ordered his subordinate...

The man whose shoulder was pierced glanced at Ye Jingyu, then at the surrounding crowd, and with a look of helplessness, stepped forward. He reluctantly raised his hand, making a cupped-fist salute toward Ye Jingyu, before saying with clear reluctance, "I was overly presumptuous just now, brother. I ask for your forgiveness..."

"Forget it, forget it. You were only anxious to protect your master; how could I hold it against you? However, such impulsiveness will only bring endless trouble to your lord," Ye Jingyu waved his hand carelessly, adopting the tone of an elder, which infuriated Lian Yi to the point of speechlessness...

"May I ask the brother's esteemed name..." Seeing Ye Jingyu no longer blaming his subordinate, Luo Ruofeng spoke up again...

"My name is Ye Jingyu, a native of Longya Village, Ninglang County, Shu Yun Kingdom," Facing Luo Ruofeng, Ye Jingyu did not hide his origins and stated them directly...

He had already decided that since he had managed to save the Young Third Master of the Shu Yun Kingdom by chance, this was the perfect opportunity to strike a deal with him...

"Ah..." Hearing that Ye Jingyu was actually from the Shu Yun Kingdom, Luo Ruofeng and the others looked surprised, but they quickly composed themselves. It made sense now why he knew their Young Master; he was also from the Shu Yun Kingdom...

"Then why is Brother Ye here?" Luo Ruofeng asked, very puzzled...

"Alas, the story is long..." Ye Jingyu sighed inwardly, then recounted everything—how he was sent to White Cloud Manor, the unfair treatment he received, and finally, how Qin Yan plotted against him. The tale left Luo Ruofeng and his men astonished...

"Brother Ye, rest assured. Although Qin Yan earned great merit in that recent conflict, he is deeply calculating and fiercely ambitious. My father, the King, will not rely on him heavily. If you return with me to the Shu Yun Kingdom, I will certainly help you take revenge," Luo Ruofeng said calmly after hearing Ye Jingyu's narrative. Having witnessed Ye Jingyu's formidable personal combat strength and the power structure backing him, he already harbored thoughts of recruiting him...

"But I am a disciple of White Cloud Manor. If I join the Young Master, won't that bring you trouble?" How could Ye Jingyu fail to understand Luo Ruofeng’s intentions? Despite his outwardly courteous demeanor, wasn't he a member of the royal family, someone of great consequence?

"Heh heh, Brother Ye, you worry needlessly. The people of White Cloud Manor are still subjects of the Shu Yun Kingdom. As long as they don't rebel or cause unrest, why would my father harm them? Isn't this Brother Qing Shun here, one of the brightest talents of the younger generation from the Heavenly Sword Sect, perfectly fine?" Luo Ruofeng responded with a faint smile to Ye Jingyu’s concern...

"Heh heh, if that is the case, then I shall trouble the Young Master," Ye Jingyu glanced at the young man holding the long sword, a faint smile gracing his face...

"Not at all... To gain the assistance of Brother Ye is the fortune I, Luo Ruofeng, have cultivated over three lifetimes," Luo Ruofeng also chuckled softly...

Following this, the two men clasped hands tightly, the smiles on their faces growing ever brighter—a smile that embodied triumph, deceit, and cunning calculation...